Machine for tying a slip-noose.



PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. ;W. 0. WBTHBRELL. MACHINE FOR TYING A SLIP NOOSE.

AIPLIOATIOH FILED JUNE 13, 1906.

" 7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

'N0 s39, '2 41 PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906.

v w. 0. WETHERELL.

' MACHINE FOR TYING A SLIBNOOSE.

APPLICATION IILED JUNE 13, 1906.

7 SHEETS-$51111! 2.

70 I M m mk i W. G. WETHERBLL. MACHINE FOR TYING A SLIP NOOSE.

APPLICATION FILED JURE 13, 1906.

7 PA'IQENTED DEC. 25, 1906. v w. 0. WETHERELL. MACHINE FORTYING- A SLIP NOOSE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1906- v v 7 SHEETSr-SHEBT 4.

I PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. W. G. WETHERELL. MACHINE FOR TYING A SLIP NOOSB.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 13, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

.7 CA, "22532: W

PAIiBNTED DEC. 25, 1906". I win. WBTHBRELL. I "MACHINE FOR TYING A SLIP-NOOSE.

No. 839,241. Q

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1906.

7 sums-sum 'r.

Ema

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. f

WINFORD 0. WETHERELL, 01? FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE F on TYlNG A SLlP-NO OSE. i

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906 Application filed June 13,1906. Serial No. 321,586.

To all'whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, Wmronn C; .Wnrnmv Fall River, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented. a certain new and useful Machine for Tying 'a Slip- Noose, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a machine for roviding an object with a flexible cord, of her or metal, with which the object may be fastened to another object; and it consists ofvarious devices and of combinations thereof, the construction and the operation of which will become plain hereinafter. My invention may be employed for different purposes andin different. environments without departing from the spirit of my invention;-'but for the purpose of illustrating the princl les involved t e machine I have chosen is designed to thread tags with string. 'It operates with speed and certain-y and does away with what is commonly known as hand-threading, a method now necessarily employed notwithstanding the existence of other machines-designed to obviate that method, V

Figure 1 is a front view of my invention in elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3

is a plan. Fig. 4 is a perspective view for more clearly showing the thread-cutting, the thread-looping, and the thread-end-dehvery apparatus of myinvention. Fig. 4 is a front view of thrad-end-delivery device. Figs. 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12,13

- and 14, 15 and 16,17 and 18, 19 and 20, are

views respectively in plan and elevation, showing some of the succeeding o'sitions' of certain mechanisms while emp oyed in threading a tag and releasing it and in return in to normal position.

he complete machine may in a general way be described as made up of any suitable driving mechanism, tag holding and releasmechanisms, string-feeding1 mechanism,

mechanism for loopin string t rough a tag,

mechanism whereby t e free end portions of the looped string may be delivered to gripping mechanism, and gripping mechanism wherebythese end portions may be seized, .drawn through the loop, and the tag removed from the ta -holdin mechanism and then allowed to fal away cm the gripping mechanism, and means for returningthe above 5 mechan sms to then normal posltlons.

The whole machine is shown mounted upon a cast-iron base A; The mechanism consists of a driving-shaft B, -mounted in suitable bearings and operated and com trolled by a fast and a loose ulley C D, r01 vided with a power-belt. gear-whee E fixed to the shaft, meshes with agear wheel,

F, fast on a main shaft 1, having bearings standards 2. Through the main shaft power and movement are imparted to the various operating mechanisms referred to heretofore 1n a general way.

To the mam shaft 1 is fixed a bevel-gear 10, provided with gear-teeth for only a portion of its circumference for the purpose of controlling the strin -feeding mechanism;

It meshes with a beve -gear' 11 on a feed-roll shaft 12, which is mounted in bearings in a feed-roll standard, and has thereon a stringfeed roll 13, so that for a riod of time during'each revolution of. t e main'shaft the through said distance and stops, as f'ust-dew 13 and scribed. Located above the feed-r01 rolling-in frictional enga ement therewith is r a second feed-roll 14, held in proper relations with the former roll by suitable bearings.

In the particular construction shown the bevel-gear 11 is in diameter one-half that of the bevel-gear 10, .so that it and the ;feed-rolls make one complete revolution during onehalf a revolution" of the bevel-gear 10 and main shaft-and remain idle during the second. half of the revolution of the main shaft. Further, the diameter of the feed-roll 13 is made such that the circumference equals theilength of string to be supplied to the thread-looping mechanism, so that while the bevel ears are in cooperative engagement the eed-rol ls push to the looping mechanism the length of strin required. Of course it isto be understoo that the relation between the diameter of the bevel-gear 10 and that of the bevel-,

feed-roll shaft 12, with the feed-roll 13, moves gear 11 need not necessarily be that of two to;.

once to supply the length of string wishe It is desirable that the feeding ap aratus one or that the feed-roll '13 must 'revolveiust shall furnish the su ply of string to t e looping mechanism be ore. thelattershall begintion and inaction shall depend uponan exact half-revolution of the main shaft is immaterial, all that is required is that the reedmg apparatus shall supply the right length of string at the right time.

The string is furnished as from a spool rotatably mounted in standards and asses through a funnel-shaped tube 15, leading to the advancing circumferential surfaces of the feed-rolls, which seize the string and push it through sections of a string-guide tube 16, leading to the string-cutting mechanism and the string-looping mechanism. When the feed-rolls stop, the string is retained in positionin the guide-tube for the operations of cutting and oopin The cutting mechanism is found upon the delivery side of the feed-rolls. The stringtub'e extends to a knife-standard 30, in which is pivotally mounted a knife-blade 31, (see Fig. 4,) held away from the axis of the tube by a spring secured to the standard. The

cutting of the string is brought about by a cam 32 on the main shaft. t operates a lever 33, pivoted to a bracket 34 on the base,

and a link 35, connecting said lever with the free end portion of the knife, and causes the knife to cut the string by moving against the 0 position of the spring and across the axis oi the string-tube. After the string is cut the cam. releases the lever, the spring lifts the knife, link, and lever, and the string-cutting mechanism assumes normal position. This cam 32 is fixed in such relation to the main shaft that it causes the knife to cut the string just after the right length of string has been providedthat is, after the bevel-gears 10 11, controlling the string-feeding mechanism, have ceased to engage each other.

A tag holding and releasing device 40 consists of a standard having two slots 41, Figs. 3, 4, and supports 42, which sustain tag G during the operation of threadingand then permit its withdrawal. The tag has an eye 43 and is slipped into the slots, its advancing edge is pushed into engagement with the sup ports, and the next mechanism to be employed is ready for action. This is used for oop' glthe cut string and passing the loop throug the eye 43 of the tag. To accomplish these objects, a looping-rod 50 moves in the plane of the string and through the eye of the tag. This loop-rod 50 is mounted in guides 51 52 on the base, and for the purpose of preventing it from interfering with the string-feeding operation it is held in its outward position by a spiral spring 53, which abuts the guide 51, and also a nut 54 upon the free end portion of the loop-rod. The

looping portion of the rod is notched trans- 1 versely to on" age the spring, and is thinned down vertica ly' to permit certain gri ping members, to be described later, to pass ii'eely into the loop, but between it and each side of the rod. To give a looping movement to this rod, I employ a crank 55, fixed to the main shaft 1; a rod 56, pivoted to the base A; a rod 57, connecting the crank and-said pivoted rod, and a link 58, the free end. portion of which moves in an endless uide-slot 59, Fig. 1. A block 60 is fixed to t e loop-rod 50 between the guides 51 52 and depends downward into a portion of said slot, so that the link in each of its forward movements ongages the block, moves the rod inward the desired distance, is uided out of engagement with the block, and allows the spring 53 to return the rod to its normal or outward position. The free end of the link having completed its forward movement continues along the endless slot, but in a rearward direction, back to its normal ositioni However, in so doing it passes un er the free end of a latch I 61, Fig. 1, which lies in its ath and which afterward drops back into t e slot. When the link on the next revolution of the crank moves forward, it passes up and over the latch and again into engagement with the block on the loop-rod in the manner already described.

The crank 55 is so adjusted and fixed to the driving-shaft 1 that the forward movement of the looping-rod 50 takes place just after the string has been cut the desired length. The axis of the loop-rod is located so that the notch on the rod engages the string at the middle of its length and in its forward movement forces the string, the two halves following side by side, through a string-delivering device, later to be described, and through the eye 43 of the tag. (See Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6.) The string-loop and the rod are now in position for the gripping mechanism to operate for the purpose of securing the string to the tag. Fixed to the main shaft 1 (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6) is a member 70, upon which is mounted near its periphery two string-gripping jaws 71 72, one of whichsay 7Iby means of a shaft 73 passing through the member is fixed to a reversing gear-wheel 74. The other j awsay 72is pivoted to the jaw 71 and has on its end opposite to its gripping end a ball-bearing 75, designed to engage certain cam-surfaces for the purpose of opening the jaws. A stop 76 is fixed to said member and by means of a spring 77, operating upon the hub of the gearwheel 74, tends to hold the rear portions of jaws in contact 1 with the stop 76. When the loop-rod 50 andthe loop of string are in the position just de 1 scribed, the gripping-jaws 71 72 are about to engage the loop and the ball-bearing 75 on the jaw 72 to engage expanding cam-surface 78 for moving the gripping portion of jaw 72 away from gripping portion of jaw 71. Just j as the ball 75 (see Figs. 5 and 6) en a es the cam-surface the gripping portion of t e jaw 71 passes between one side of the loopingrod 50 and the loop and the other jaw 72 between the other side of the rod and the other side of the loop. As the main shaft continues to move in the direction indicated by the ITO spring 53 to snap the loop'rod 50 back to normal position to again upon the next revolution of the main shaft push the next piece of string through the eye of the next tag to be threaded. The jaws having begun to move downward, those portions of the string that have not been drawn through the tag must be delivered to the gripping portions of the jaws. Mounted in the tag-holding standard 40 is a rod 90, having oscillating move-.

ments, the forward movement being brought about by a cam 91 on the main shaft 1, positively operating a lever 92, which in turn through a curved connecting-link and an arm on the rod causes the latter to move col"- respondingly. On this rod 99 is an arm 93, operated by a spring 94 to return the rod to normal position. cylinder 95, the axis of which when the c lin-' der is in normal position is the axis 0 the loo -rod 50; The under side of the cylinder is s otted throughout its length; but this slot is closed by two crossed string-retaining wires 96, Fig. 4, which, however, can be separated by the pressure of the end portions of the string when the grip ing-jaws,--as will ap pear later, seize andpul upon these end portions. I

The cylinder is pivoted to the standard by a rod 97, Fi 4 lying in a plane of the driving-rod 90, ut inclinedat an acute angle to the axis of said rod 90. An arm 98, fixed to the rod 90, extends horizontally rearwardly and engages a guiding member 99, arran gid e above the topof the strin -cylinder 95.

cam 91 operating throug the lever 92, the rod 90, and arm 98 and guiding member 99, forces the string-delivery cylinder 95, with the string ends therein, downwardly about its pivot-rod. 97 against the tension of the spring 94, the end portions of the string being carried downward between string-guide lates 100 101, which in turn insure the deivery of the end portions of the string between the jaws 71 72, said guide-plates at that time lying between the jaws and the said end portions of the string, as appears in Figs. 9 and 10. The saidstring end portions are thus delivered with certainty into position for thes jaws' to ri them. Meanwhilet e member continue their forward and downward movement, the reversing-gear 74, fixedto the jaws 7172, engages a curved rack 79 and causes as main shaft l'an the jaws to turn in a direction opposite to in Figs. 9 and 10, whi

Below this rod isa hollow that of the main shaft i. 6., the grip ing portions of the jaws move upward outs1 e of the string-guide plates 100 101, the end portions of the string yin between the jaws, as

Fe the ball-bearing on the rear portion of the jaw 72 moves downwardly along the cam-surface 80 on the standard 2 and toward 'its releasing edge 81. When this edge is reached, the jaw 72 is released, and a jaw-spring 82 forces the jaw and the string ends into engagement with the other jaw 71, and the string ends are thus held fast within the closed jaws. By the next operation, the cam 91, operating the string-cylinder 95, releases the latter, and the spring94, attached to the rod by the arm 93, snaps the string-cylinder back into its normal position, and the end portions of the string that formerly lay inthe slotted string-cylinder, leave-it through the slot and crossed wires 96, Fig. 4 The reversinggear 74 still being in engagement with the rack-79 the gripping portions of the jaws continue to move upward and rearward, and thereby draw more and more of the end portions of the string through the eye of the tag, and consequently to move the slip-noose closer to the tag, all of which appears in Figs.

13 and 14. At about this time the reversinggear 74 (see Figs. 15 and 16) disenga es the rack 79, and the spring 77, acting on t e wire 83, coiled about the hub of the reversinggear 74, snaps the jaws forward to their normal position, the rear jaw bringing up against the stop 76on the member 70. This returnvto normal position draws the noose still closer to the tag, and the bottom edge of the latter is pulled outward and over the tagretaining support 42 of the slotted tag-holder and then down and out of the holder. The tag is now completely strung. The jaws are closed upon the string ends and the tag con tinues to move on' with the main shaft until the tag has reached a suitable position to be released. When such position is reached, (shown, for example, in Figs. 17 and 18,) the ball-bearing 75 on the rear portion of the jaw 72 engages a tag-releasing cam-surface 84 on the-standard 2, the jaws separate, the string becomes disengaged from between the 'aws, and the tag drops, say, into some suitable receptacle.

After the strung tag has dropped awa from the grippers the jaws when the bal bearing sli s off fromthe releasing-cam surface 84, c ose and they then move into their normal position, and the cycle of the operations of the apparatus is complete. Meanwhile another tag has been supplied to the holder, another length of string pushed IIO through the string-tube and cut, and the While from the above description it is a parent that the apparatus successfully threads a tag, it is also plain that the movements of the jaws, the looping device, and the string-delivering device are such that a slip-noose may be formed about any article, provided said article is held within the space bounded by the loop, .the path described by the free ends of the gripping members, and that by the thread-end-delivering device.

Having described my invention and the principles involved and desiring to claim my invention and its various combinations and subcombinations in the broadest manner legally possible, What claim is a 1. Grippin members; a shaft having said gripping memiers operatively mounted .thereon; means whereby said gripping members may be opened and closed; and means whereby said gripping members may be caused to turn a partial revolution upon themselves in one direction; and means to restore said members in an opposite direction to normal position.

2. Gripping members a shaft; a member fixed thereto; said gripping members being pivotally mounted upon said member; a pinion operatively connected to the I ripping members; and a rack with which sai pinion, by the rotation of said shaft, is moved into and out of engagement; thereby causing thegrippingmembers to turn on their pivot a partial revolution; and means to restore said members in an opposite direction to normal position.

. 3: Gripping members; a shaft; a member fixed thereto; another shaft mounted in said member; said gripping members being fixed to said latter shaft; a pinion fixed to said latter. shaft; and'a rack, with which said pinion is'moved into and out of engagement, thereby causing the gripping members to turn a partial'revolution in one direction; and means to restore said members in an opposite direction to normal position.

4.'Gripping members; a shaft; a member fixed thereto; said grippingmembers being pivotally mounted upon said member; a pinion operatively connected to the ipping members; and a rack with which sai pinion, by the rotation of said shaft, is moved into and out of engagementthereby causing the gripping members to urn on their pivot a partial revolution in one direction; and means to cause the gripping members to turn in an opposite direction, return to, and remain in normal position, when said rack and pinion are not in e agement.

5. Gripping mem ers; a shaft having said gripping members operatively mounted thereon; means for presenting a loop of flexible material to said gripping members moving with said shaft, whereby the gripping members may move into said loop; means for delivering to said gripping members, while in said loop, porsaid tions of said material to be carried through said loop; means for closing said gripping members while in said loop whereb said material may be gripped and secure y held by said members; and means whereby said griplping members together with said material to e 'drawn throughsaid loop presented, are withdrawn through said loop, in a direction other than that of the moving shaft; means for opening said grippers to release the material therefrom.

6. Gripping members; a shaft having said gripping members operatively mounted thereon; means for presenting a loop of flexible material to said gripping members, moving with said shaft, whereby the gripping members may move into said loop; means for delivering to said grippin members, while in said loop, portions of said said loop; means for closing said gripping members while in said loop whereb said material, may be grip ed and secure y held by said members; an means whereby said gripping members together with said material to be drawn through said loop presented, are withdrawn through. said loop, in a direction other than that of the moving shaft; means for o ening said grippers to release the materia therefrom; and means for restoring apparatus to normal position.

7. A main shaft; a device for delivering flexible material; means whereby said device is operatively controlled by said main shaft; gripping members operatively mounted upon said main shaft; means for presenting a loop of said flexible material to said gripping members moving with said shaft, whereby said ripping members may be moved into loop; means for opening the gripping members; means for deliverin to said gripping members while in said oop, material which is to be carried through said loop; means for closing said gripping members while in said loop, whereb said material may be securely held in sai gripping members; means whereby said. rip ing members togetherwith said materia to e withdrawn through the 'loop presented, are moved through said loop in a direction other than that of the moving shaft; means for opening the grippers to release said material therefrom; and means to restore the whole apparatus to normal position.

8. A main shaft; a device for delivering flexible material; means whereby said device is operatively controlled by said main shaft; means for cutting said flexible material; means whereb said cutting means are operatively controlfed by said main shaft; gripping members operatively mounted upon said main shaft; means for presenting a loop of said flexible material to said gripping members moving with said shaft, whereby said gripping members may be moved into said 00p; means for opening the gripping material to be carried through ping members while in said loop, material which is to be carried through said loop;

means for' closing said gripping members while in said loop, whereby sa1d material may be securely held in said gripping members means whereby said gripping members together with said material to be withdrawn through the loop presented, are moved through said loop in a direction other than that of the moving shaft means for opening the grippers to release said material therefrom; and means to restore the whole apparatus to normal position.

9. Gripping members; a shaft having said grippinglm'embers operatively mounted thereon; means for holding an object to be threaded; means for passing a loop of flexible material through said object and presenting said loop to said gripping members moving with said shaft, whereby the gripping members may move into said loop; means for delivering to said gripping members, while in said 100 portions of-said material tobe. carried t ough said loop; means for closing said gripping members while in said loop whereby said material maybe gripped and securely held between said gripping members and means whereb said gri ping members together with said materiai through said loop presented, are withdrawn through said loop, in a direction other than that of the moving shaft.

10. Gripping members; a shaft having said gripping members operatively mounted thereon; means for holding an object to be threaded; means for passing a loop of flexible material through said object and presenting said loop to said gripping members moving with said shaft, whereb the gripping members may move into said oop means for t erefrom.

delivering to said gripping members, while in said loo portions of said material to be carried t rough said loop; means for closing said grippin members while in said loop whereby sai 'material may be gripped and securely held between,said grip ing members; and means whereby sai gripping members together with said material to be drawn through said loop presented are withdrawn throu h said loop, in a direction other than that of the moving shaft; means for o ening said grippers to release the material 11. Gripping vmembers; a shaft having said gripping members operatively mounted thereon; means for holdlng an object to be threaded; means for passing a loop of flexible material through said object and presenting said loop to sa1d pin members moving with said shaft, w ere y the gripping members may move into sa1d loop; means for delivering to said gripping members,

while in said op, portions of saidmaterial to be carried through said loop; means for to be drawn closingsaid gripping members while in said loop whereby sa1d material may be gripped and securely held between said gr pp ng members; and means whereby said grippmg' -members together with said material to be drawn through said loop presented, are withdrawn through said loop, in a direction other than that of the moving shaft; means for o ening said grippers to release the material t erefrom, and means for restoring apparatus to normal position.

12. A main shaft; a device for delivering flexible material; means whereby said device is operatively controlled by said main shaft; gripping members operatively mounted upon said mam shaft; means for holding an Ob ect to be threaded; means for making and passing a loop of said flexible material throu h sa1d object and presenting said loop to sa1d gripping members moving with said shaft, whereby saidgripping members may be moved into said loop; means for o eningthe gripping members ;.means for "de ivering to said gri ping" members while in said loo materia which is to be carried through said loop; meansfor closing said gripping members while in said loo whereby sa1d material may be securely hel in said gripping members; means whereby said ip ing members together with said materia to be withdrawn through said loop presented are moved through said loop in a direction other than that of the moving shaft; means for opening the grippers to release said material therefrom; and means to restore-the whole apparatus to normal osition.

13. A main s aft; a device for delivering flexible material; means whereby said deviceloop; means for closing said grippin members while in said loop, whereby sai material may be securely held in said gripping members; means whereby said gripping members to ether with said material to be withdrawn t ough said loop presented are moved through said loop in a direction other than that of the moving shaft; means for opening the grippers to release said materialtherefrom; and means to restore the whole apparatus to normal position.

14. Gripping members; a shaft having material which is to be carried through said by a loop of flexible material may be presented to said gri ping members; means to move the free en portions of said material to said gri ping members; and plates to uide said en ortions to and between sai grippin mem ers; said members-closing upon sai plates and end portions, while said members are turning upon themselves.

15. Gripping members; a shaft; a member fixed thereto; said gripping members being pivotally mounted upon said member; a pinion operatively conneeted to the ipping members; and a rack with which sai pinion, by the rotation of said shaft, is moved into and out of engpgement thereby causing the 'pping mem rs to turn on their pivot in a ection opposite to that of the moving shaft; means to open said p' members; means whereby a loop of flexib e material may be presented to said gripping members; means to move the free end portions of said material to said gripping members; plates to guide said end portions to and between said open gripping members; means to close said gripping members so that they will engage the outer sides of said plates, and thus not fail to ip the said free end portions.

16. ripping members; a shaft; a member fixed thereto; said gripping members being pivotally mounted upon said member; a pinion operatively connected to the ripping members; and a rack with which sai pinion, by the rotation of said shaft, is moved into and out of en agement; thereby causing the gripping mem ers to turn on their pivot in a direction opposite to that of the moving shaft; means to open said gripping members;

means whereby a loop of flexible material may be presented to said gripping members; means to move the free end portions of said material to said gripping members; plates to guide said end portions to and between-said open gripping members; means to close said gripping members so that they will engage the outer sides of said plates, and thus not fail to grip the said free end portions; and means to cause the gripping members to return to and remain 'in normal position in relation to the shaft when said rack and pinion move out of en agement. I

17. A main s aft ;v a delivery-shaft; means whereby said main shaft is operatively connected to the delivery-shaft; a member fixed to said delivery-shaft, and having an opening throughout its length; elastic means for closing said opening; means for holding said member in its normal position; means for pushing aloop of flexible material through said opening while said member is in its normal position; gripping mechanism to en age said loo means to withdraw said pus 'ng means rom said member; means whereby the main shaft causes the delivery-shaft to move, thereby moving said member with said flexible material, into position for the latter to be seized by the gripping mechanism; means to cause said member to move back to normal position; the tension upon the flexible material bein such that it causes the said flexible materia to leave the open space in said member by overcomin the resistance offered to its passage by sai elastic means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WINFORD O. WETHERELL.

Witnesses:

MARY R. How, RICHARD P. BORDEN. 

